The CIA Wasn’t Ready on 9/11. Are We Ready Today?

It took years to build our counterterrorism expertise after the 9/11 attacks. As new threats emerge, we need to ensure we have the bench strength to be prepared. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. This will be my first year honoring America’s fight against terrorism away from the CIA. Each year on 9/11, my colleagues and I would gather for a moment of silence, standing in front of the remnants of the American flag found among the rubble of the World Trade Center—contemplating the lives lost, the sacrifices we made, and the successes we celebrated. Allison Yezril has spent more than two decades shaping U.S. national security strategy and advising senior decision-makers on complex geopolitical, counterterrorism, and emerging technology challenges. She held leadership and analysis positions at the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department, and previously served as a researcher and analyst at RAND's Science and Technology Policy Institute. Remembering 9/11